Sole sanding machine



Oct. 10, 1967 J. A, HARRINGTON ETAL. 3,345,781

SOLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Oct10, 1967 J. A. HARRINGTON ETAL 3,345,781

SOLE SANDING MACH INE '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 R s Omse M T5M N www@ V52 n mf H l A 4MM f Z MZ i2.

Oct. 10, 1967 J. A. HARRINGTON ETAL 3,345,781A

SOLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Oct.10, 1967 J. A. HARRINGTON ETAL 3,345,781

v SOLE SANDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 .llllllll J.A. HARRINGTQN ETAL Oct. 10,' 1967 SOLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2a,1965 ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 J. A. HARRINGTQN ETAL 3,345,781

SOLE SANDING MACHINE 7- Sheets-Shee't 6 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 zzz 'ATTORNEYS 4Oct. l0, 1967 J. A. HARRINGTON ETAL 3,345,781

SOLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 MOM-IWATTORNEYS United States Patent O of Michigan Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser.No. 428,679 11 Claims. (Cl. 51--34) This invention relates to shoemachinery, and more particularly to a machine for abrading the heel areaof a molded shoe sole.

Molded 'shoe soles of polymeric materials such as synthetic rubberpresently are preferably made with a three'dimensional pattern moldedinto the sole bottom. Since the heel of the shoe is normally adhesivelyattached to the bottom of the fiat sole, and since the three dimensionalpattern prevents effective adhesion, the pattern must be removed in theheel area of the lsole bottom, as by abrasion. To do this economically,soles must be abraded in rapid succession. Since the pattern must 'beremoved in all of the heel area, but in no more than this specific area,accuracy of abrasion is very important. Yet, the high frictioncharacteristics, especially of rubber soles, renders them difficult toautomatically manipulate for abrading. They resist sliding with respectVto each other an-d with respect to the support surface.

Prior to this invention, therefore, it has largely been deemed necessaryto manually feed and control each sole into an abrading head because ofthese and other difficulties inherent in the nature of the materials andprocess.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel heel area soleabrading apparatus capable of high speed, automatic abrasion of patternsoles, in the heel area and only in the heel area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique apparatuscapable of rapidly feeding rubber soles from a stack in a slidingaction, abrading them automatically in rapid succession, and dependablydischarging them.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic soleabrading apparatus having complete accuracy to abrade exactly the heelarea, no more and no less. The device repeatedly feeds new soles in andabraded soles out, while simultaneously abrading soles, thereby beingvery efficient. Each sole is slid smoothly and dependably along themachine, even though it is formed of high friction material. The natureof the apparatus assures complete alignment -of each sole with theabrading head. The apparatus can accommodate right-foot soles, left-footsoles, large soles or small soles.

' These and several other objects of this invention will become apparentupon studying the following specification in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective front view of the novel machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, end elevational view of the machine in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the novel apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus, taken on plane IV-IV ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a View of the apparatus, taken in the direction indicated atV,-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective View of the -operativecomponents on the apparatus in one position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of the apparatus ina second position; Y

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic circuit controlling theapparatus;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a sole an-d the feed-in fingers of the machine;

ICS

FIG. l0 is ya front elevational view of the elements in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, front, elevational View of a portion of the workplatform and a holding hook; and

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of a portion of thefeed hopper.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the complete abradingmachine assembly 1t) includes `a 'support frame sub-assembly 12, a shoesole hopper sub-assembly 14, a slanted feed and operating tablesub-assembly 16, a shoe sole feed and discharge lsub-assembly 18, acarriage sub-assembly 19, an abrading hea-d sub-assembly 20, a clampingsub-assembly 22, and a sole receiving discharge chute sub-assembly 24.

Framework The supporting framework sub-assembly 12 includes componentsto support the other sub-assemblies in cooperative relationship. Itincludes, for example, a tabletype stand 30 with its plurality ofdepending legs, and upon which are supported the remainingsubaassemblies along its length.

Platform Extending a substantial portion of the length of this supportis the slanted feed and operating table sub-assembly i6. This includesan upper platform 36 slanted downwardly and rearwardly toward the backof the unit, -at an angle of approximately 45. The platform is purposelyslanted to cause the elongated soles to maintain constant positioningwith respect to the grinder. This is because the sole tends to slide t-othe bottom of the table no matter what its position along the table. Itabuts an elongated stop flange or ridge 50 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) along thebottom rear table edge. As will be noted hereinafter, all of the othercomponents are tilted to cooperate with the tilted table. The table musttilt at a subsantial angle to assure the ysliding action, and yet mustallow the sole to rest on it. Hence, the preferred angle is about 45 asindicated, but can be slightly more or less, provided these conditionsare met. Slanted soles pushed 4along the table have the heel area edgein contact constantly with flange surface 50.

This platform is mounted on a pair of rigid standards 38 and 39 (FIG. l)on opposite ends. The standards each have a base aixed to a pair ofpillars 40 Iand 42. The pillars rest on and are affixed to support 30.Platform 36 includes a longitudinal slot 46 (FIG. 2) extending along itslength and positioned generally in its center. This slot allowssole-pushing fingers to move therein as described hereinafter.

Feed hopper On one end of the slanted operating table or platform (theleft end as the structure is viewed in FIG. 1) is a feed hoppersub-assembly 14. It feeds individual soles to the working platform. This'sub-assembly includes a pair of upstanding plates 54 and 56 whichgenerally converge downwardly and backwardly into abutment with a backpanel 58. These three panels form the receiving hopper for a stack ofsoles. The heels of the soles abut against panel 58 when placed in thehopper.

The hopper can be varied in width and configuration by clampingmechanisms 55 and 57 (FIG. 5) which enable the panels to .be adjusted.This accommodates soles of different size, and right or left foot soles.

VThe back surface of back panel 58 of the hopper Vis coated with alubricious plastic such as nylon or Teflon to assure smooth sliding ofthe soles down the hopper as soles are removed from the bottom. Also,the back panel is at an obtuse angle with respect to platform 36 tocause only slight line contact between the heel of each sole and backpanel 58. This assures minimum frictional resistance due to minim-umcontact area. The soles are automatically moved one at a time orut ofthe bottom of the hopper and across platform 36, by being slid throughan opening 60 in the bottom of panel 56 (FIG. 5). Since the platform 36is slanted, if the hopper gets almost empty for refill, a large heavysole on the bottom may tend to fall out of the hopper through opening 60if there are no soles on top of it to hold it in place. Hence, a springelement 59 (FIGS. 3 and 12) is attached to hopper wall `56 near therupper end of opening 60 to prevent this. This element has its lower endextending over 'a portion of opening 60, and is biased in this position.It can be defiected temporarily upwardly with forceful shifting of thebottom sole S through opening 60 for egress of the sole.

A plurality of small rollers 62 are rotatably mounted in platform 36beneath the hopper, and particularly along its upper front end portion.This is to caiuse smooth discharge of big soles from the base of thehopper, even though several other rubber soles are mounted on top of,and press down on the sole to be removed.

S ole feed means The bottom sole is shifted out of the hopper by a pairof spaced, projecting, shiftable feed fingers 70 and 72 (FIG. 5). Thefront finger 70 is L-shaped, or doglegshaped. It projects above the`upper surface of platform 36 adjacent its front edge. The second finger72 projects above the surface of platform 36 through slot 46 (FIG. 2).

These two fingers have their lower ends mounted in a pair of likeL-s-haped Ibrackets 76. The two brackets are essentially identical andappear like the one front bracket 76 shown for finger 70 (FIG. 7). Bothof these brackets have their lower ends -xedly attached to a pivotal rod80 (FIG. 7) extending through a surrounding sleeve 82 transverse to thetable, parallel thereto. Rotating of rod 80 causes pivoting of the twobrackets to move fingers 70 and 72 from the protruding position (FIGS. 2and 5) to the depressed position (FIG. 6).

The shape of finger 70` is important since its laterally extending upperend portion engages different llength soles in optimum manner. Morespecifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, even though the sole may vary inlength, and thus, the portion S1 of the sole S will be in a differentposition with respect to the back hopper panel 58 and guide surface 50,dogleg finger 70 will contact it along the instep area for effectivecooperative removal with finger 72.

Each of upwardly projecting fingers 70 and 72 has a beveled forward-upper edge, 71 and 73 respectively (FIG. 9), and shown most clearly at71 on finger 70 (FIG. 10). Also, the total thickness or height of thefingers is greater than the thickness of the sole S so that the bevelededge 71 protrudes above the sole to be shifted. Thus, as the fingersshift the bottom sole S out from under the stack of soles S2, S3, S4,etc. in hopper 14, this beveled edge lifts the overlying sole off theshifted sole to minimize and substantially eliminate frictional dragbetween the bottom most sole and the others normally resting thereupon.This enables the sole to be readily shifted through opening 60 in thehopper (FIG. 5) for removal on a high speed production basis.

Sole discharge means A second set of spaced, projecting, sole shiftingfingers 86 and 88 (FIG. 2) are spaced from fingers 70 and 72 along theplatform toward the discharge end of table 36 (the right end as viewedin FIG. 1). These are soledischarge fingers which push the abraded solefrom the central work zone of the platform and discharge it down chute24. These fin-gers, like fingers 70 and 72, are shift able from a firstposition projected above the table (FIG. 2) to a second position beneaththe surface of the table 4 (FIG. 6). They are mounted to the outer endsof L-shaped brackets and 92 (FIG. 4) which have their lower ends mountedto a pivotal shaft 96 rotatable in sleeve 98.

The two -sleeves 82 (FIG. 7) and 98 (FIG. 4) for the two sets of fingersboth have their rear ends affixed to an upstanding support plate 100(FIG. 4). This plate is part of the movable carriage assembly to bedescribed. Each of the pivotal rods 96 and 80 has extending downwardlytherefrom a pair of fixed respective ears, e.g. ears 104 and 106 (FIG.4) for rod 96 and ears 105 for rod 80 (FIG. 5). The lower ends of theseears are pivotally attached as by pins 108 and 110 to the extended endof links 112 and 113 (FIG. 5) connected to rod 114 of the piston in afiuid cylinder 116. The cylinder is also mounted to the carriage -bymount 117. Actuation of cylinder 116 in opposite directions causeslinkage shifting for pivoting L-shaped brackets for elevating thefingers simultaneously above the table or alternatively, simultaneouslydepressing them beneath the table surface. As will be explainedhereinafter, the 'unit can thus simultaneously feed an unabraded solefrom hopper 14 to the grinder by fingers 70 and 72, and discharge anabraded sole to chute 24 with fingers 86 and 88, while they move to theright across the table (as the structure is viewed in FIG. 1). Whendepressed, they can move backward beneath the table.

Carriage and abrader The fingers are shifted back and forth across table36 by carriage sub-assembly 19 (FIG. 4). This carriage subassemblyincludes a pair of sleeve guides and 132 which fit around a pair offixed Iguide rods 134 and 136, respectively, aligned with the table. Theslide or guide rods 134 and 136 can be protected from the rubbermaterial abraded from the shoe soles by sets of bellows 137 and 139 ifdesired (FIG. 5

Attached to the sleeves is plate 100 that mounts finger bracket sleeves96 and 80. Also mounted on this carriage is the motor 140, on the outputshaft 142 of which is affixed a cylindrical abrading cylinder 144. Thecylinder has a cover guard 146. The housin-g 1146 around the abradingcylinder has a flexible exhaiust hose 147 attached thereto and extendingto a suitable outlet for the abrasive particles to be vented.

This carriage is shifted by a fluid cylinder (FIG. 3) affixed to thesupport frame. It has its extending shaft 162 (FIG. 4) attached to theunderslung bracket 166 of the carriage sub-assembly to push and pull itback and forth across the mechanism. Shifting of the carriage toward thefeed hopper moves not only the two sets of fingers as described, butalso the abrading wheel and its driving motor. The abrading wheel,therefore, can move back and forth over the central work portion of thetable, while the feed fingers 70 and 72 move between the feed hopper andthe table center to shift a sole out of the feed hopper to the workarea, and the discharge fingers move between the center of the table andthe dischar-ge chute to push abraded soles from the work area.

Sole clamping means Mounted to operate adjacent the center of the table,and cooperative with both pairs of fingers and the abrading wheel, isthe sole clamping sub-assembly 22. This clamping mechanism is mounted onan upwardly extending, rigid bracket (FIG. 1) and more specifically, ona vertical extension 182 therefrom. Basically, it includes a V-shapedrocker clamp arm 184 (FIG. 4) pivotally mounted adjacent its center apex186 between a pair of bracket ears 188 depending from support 182. Thelower rear end of rocker arm 184 extends over the top of. table 36 atits center (FIG. 4). Attached to this lower end is a sole clamping pad190 which clamps soles against table 36 with the heel area exposed. Thisclamp can -be actuated by shifting its rear end 184' upwardly with theextended rod 192 of a fluid cylinder 194 mounted in bracket 180. Atension spring 196 returns the clamp to its release position whencylinder 194 retracts.

Retaining hook Mounted to the front edge of platform 36 adjacent theclamp sub-assembly is a tiny sole retaining hook 200 (FIGS. 7 and l1).This retaining hook is secured to the ed-ge of platform 36 as by a screw202, so that its upper hooking edge 204 projects above the surface ofplatform 36. This forms a stop surface for a sole lwhich has been pushedup over the adjacent curved or beveled slanted surface 206, leading up4to ledge 204. Thus, a sole aligned on table 36 4with its long axisupwardly on the slant, and pushed laterally in the direction indicatedby the arrow in FIG. 11 by loading fingers 70 and 72, will ride uplead-on slope 206 and drop down behind ledge 204 as indicated by thephantom sole at S in FIG. ll. This prevents it from sliding backdownwardly in rotating fashion to an askew position when loading fingers70 and 72 retract away from the sole and return to the feed hopper. Ifit did slide bac-k, the abrasion operation would be entirely inaccurate.

For convenience, to enable an operator standing in front of the machineto observe the action on table 26, a mirror 210 is mounted on anextending bracket 212.

Pneumatic circuit On the extending front of bracket 180 is mounted aplurality of control knobs 220, 222 and 224. These control the apparatusthrough the pneumatic circuit shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8.

More specifically, the pneumatic circuit 230 is supplied with compressedair from a suitable source 232 such as a compressor, through a checkvalve 234 to the system. It includes a manual three-way control valve236, filter 238, pressure regulator 240, pressure gauge 242, bufferaccumulator 244, lubricator 246 and muffler 247. The system alsoincludes a pair of three-way, cycle starting, pilot valves 252 and 254actuated by the knobs 222 and 224 just described, and a stop cycle valve264 actuated by knob 220. Valves 252 and 254 are in series with afour-way cycle control valve 260. It also includes a shuttle valve 262and a safety four-way pilot valve 266 operated by a solenoid 268 that isactivated when grinding head motor 140 is operating.

The system is controlled partially in response to a cam mechanism 270mounted on the carriage sub-assembly as shown in FIG. 4; It includes afirst cam 272 which will shift a first three-way pilot valve 276. Asecond three- Way pilot Valve 280 can be actuated by a second cam 282 ondevice 270. These cams are shifted with movement of piston and shaftassembly of cylinder 160 (FIG. 3) that shifts the carriage. The rate ofshifting of this cylinder can be controlled in both directions through apair of speed control valves 290 and `292, each of which includes acheck valve and a variable restricted orifice in conventional fashion.These lines to the opposite ends of this cylinder are connectedto afour-way valve 296 which in turn is associated with a pair of sequencevalves 298 and 300. These are operatively associated with cylinder 194that actuates clamp 184, and are also associated with cylinder 116 thatcauses shifting of the finger elements for sole feeding and discharge.These in turn are associated `with an air supply valve 302 to one lineof which is association a pressure regulator 304 and pressure gauge 306and the other is connected to the shuttle valve 308.

Operation The operator of the machine places a stack of soles in hopperassembly 14 so that the toes of the soles project upwardly and towardthe front of the machine, with the back end of each sole in abutmentwith the lubricious back surface of panel 58. The hopper is keptconstantly loaded. The bottommost sole is aligned with outlet opening`60 (FIG. 5) of theY hopper, and resting with its toe area on rollers62, especially if a large sole.

When motor for abrading cylinder 144 is operating, solenoid 268operating four-way pilot va-lve 266 is active to put the valve in anoperative position. The pneumatic circuitry (FIG. 8) is then ready tooperate the machine once the cycle is started.

Assuming that a sole is already in the central work area of the table,under the clamp, and that t-he fingers are all elevated, and assumingthat the feed-in fingers are immediately adjacent the sole V.that isbeneath the clamp, just having fed it into position, and the dischargefingers are adjacent the discharge chute 24, knobs 222 and 224 arepushed by the operator. Pressure through valves 302 then actuatecylinders 116 and 194 to lower the feed fingers by retracting the pistonof cylinder 116, and to close the clamp on the vsole by extendingcylinder 194 to pivot rocker arm 184. Then, sequence valve 300 opens toshift valve 296 to its first position. Pressure from valve 296 moves thecarriage by actuation of cylinder from right to left, to shift therevlovng abrading cylinder 144 over the heel area of the clamped sole.This carriage also simulaneously shifts the lowered fingers so that thefeed-in fingers are moved to a far position behind the bottom sole inhopper 14, and the discharge fingers are moved to a past-center positionbehind the sole which is just then abraded. When the carriage moves tothe extreme left end, cam 282 actuates pilot valve 280 to shift valve302 `to its second position. Pressure ported through valve 302 thenraises all of the feed fingers by extending cylinder 116. It alsoreleases clamp 184 by retracting cylinder 194, after which sequencevalve 298 opens to shift valve 296 to the second position.

Pressure from valve 296 then moves the carriage from left to right. Thismovement causes the elevated feed ngers to contact the bottom sole S (asillustrated in FIG. l0) in the stack, while the slanted beveled surfaces71 and 73, lwhich project above the sole, lift the overlying soles outof contact therewith. Thus, the lowermost sole is smoothly slid out ofthe hopper and toward the clamp in the center of the table. It is slidalong the table while held aligned by flange 50. These feed fingersshift this sole directly beneath the clamp, and just over ledge 204 ofthe stop 200 as shown in FIG. 11. Simultaneously, the discharge fingerspush the newly abraded and released sole from beneath the clamp andacross the platform into chute 24. Simultaneously, the abrading cylinderis returned to its initial position as it follows the dischange fingers,to be able to make another pass on the next sole. At the end of thestroke, pilot valve 276 is actuated by cam 272 moving with the carriageto shift valve 302 back to its initial position.

The machining repeats these steps over and over until it is stopped bypressing knob 220 to actuate the cycle stop valve 264.

Certain additional advantages and certain additional unique features ofthe disclosed apparatus may be apparent to those in the art uponstudying the foregoing specification and drawings which show thepreferred form of the invention. It is conceivable that the particulardetails of structure could be modified slightly Within the conceptspresented without departing from the inventive concepts. Hence, theinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims andthe reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein.

We claim:

1. A shoe sole abrading apparatus comprising: a sole supporting surface;sole clamping means shiftably cooperative with said surface to retain asole thereon; sole abrading means; sole feed means movable toward saidclamping means to feed a sole thereto, comprising a plurality of fingersshiftable from a first sole contacting feed position above said surfaceto a second return position below said surface; sole discharge meanscomprising a second plurality of spaced fingers shiftable from a firstsole contacting discharge position above said surface to a second returnposition below said surface; means to shift said first and secondplurality of lingers; and shiftable carriage means mounting said soleabrading means, said sole feed fingers, and said sole discharge fingersto shift them simultaneously for first feeding a sole to the clamp,returning the abrading means, and discharging a sole, and thensimultaneously returning the feed fingers, abrading the clamped sole,and returning the discharge fingers.

2. A shoe sole abrading apparatus comprising: an elongated platform,vertically slanted from front to back transverse to its elongateddimension; a shoe sole hopper at one end of said platform, and adischarge area at the other end thereof; a clamping device shiftabletoward and away from said platform between said hopper and saiddischarge area; a sole retention means along said slanted platform atthe lower edge thereof to guide a sole shifted to said clamp; arevolving sole abrading cylinder extending over a portion of saidplatform with its axis parallel thereto and movable along said platformin reciprocal fashion back and forth adjacent said clamping device toabrade the heel area of a sole clamped to said surface; and means tofeed soles to said clamp from said hopper, and from said clamp to saiddischarge area.

3. A heel area shoe sole abrading device comprising: a sole supportsurface and sole clamping means adjacent thereto and cooperativetherewith; a carriage movably mounted for reciprocation along saidsurface; a sole hopper spaced from said clamping means; a sole dischargearea spaced from said clamping means opposite to said hopper; sole feedmeans mounted and positioned to reciprocate -between said clamping meansand said hopper; sole abrading means mounted and positioned toreciprocate back and forth past said clamp; sole discharge means mountedand positioned to reciprocate back and forth between said clamp and saiddischarge area; and all of said feed means, abrading means, anddischarge means being operably mounted to said carriage tosimultaneously move back and forth therewith.

4. A shoe sole abrading apparatus comprising: a slanted, flat sole feedtable; a guide surface along the lower edge of said table; a clampadjacent and above the central portion of said table; a power motoroperably connected to shift said clamp toward said table; a sole stackhopper over one end of said table, having a pair of spaced side elementsand a slanted back surface; said back surface having a slipperylubricious characteristic; the side element of said hopper closest saidclamp having a sole outlet at its bottom, and having a resilient,shiftable spring finger biased to a position in front of said outlet,shiftable out of said outlet for egress of the bottom sole in saidhopper; said table including an unloading sta-tion at the end of thetable opposite said hopper; a carriage shiftable lengthwise along saidtable from said hopper, past said clamp, to said unloading station, andpower means to shift said carriage; sole advancing fingers normallyprojecting above said table; power means operably connected to move saidfingers below the table for recessed movement from said clamp back tosaid hopper to push the lowermost sole out of said hopper; a rotationalabrading element mounted to said carriage to abrade a clamped sole, bymoving past said clamp with said carriage simultaneously with return ofsaid feed fingers to said hopper; push out, sole discharge fingersmovable between said clamp and said discharge station and shiftable to aposition projecting above said table to push abraded soles to saiddischarge station with advancement of said feed fingers and return ofsaid abrading cylinder, and a position recessed below said table toreturn to said clamp with return of said feed fingers to said hopper andabrading movement of said cylinder.

5. The apparatus in claim d including a sole hook on said table at theupper portion thereof, adjacent said clamp, to catch the upper end of asole fed to the clamp and prevent it from turning askew on said slantedtable.

6. The apparatus in claim 4 wherein said hopper back Cil surface is atan obtuse angle to said table to limit contact of each stacked sole onsaid back surface to a line contact.

7. The apparatus in claim 4 wherein roller means is provided at thebottom of said hopper in said table, opposite said hopper back surface.

8. A heel area sole abrading machine comprising: a platform; abradingmeans adjacent said platform; a gravity feed sole hopper extending upfrom said platform; an outlet opening in the bottom of said hopper toallow the bottom sole to be pushed laterally therefrom, along saidplatform; spaced pushing elements mounted to shift laterally through thebottom of said hopper and having front faces to push the bottom sole outsaid outlet opening; said elements projecting above said surface to aheight slightly greater than the thickness of a sole; and the upperportion of the pushing faces of said elements being sloped rearwardly tolift overlying soles ofi the pushed bottom sole.

9. A heel area sole abrading machine comprising: an operating platformhaving an elongated sole advance surface in one dimension; sole feedmeans at one end of said platform configurated to feed soles with theirlong dimension transverse to the elongated sole advance surface; soledischarge means at the opposite end of said platform; sole clamping andabrading means between said feed means and said discharge means; saidplatform being sloped thereacross at a substantial acute angle to causethe soles to slide toward the bottom thereof when moving along saidplatform; sole retention means along the lower portion of the platform;and means to push unabr-aded soles in upright position along saidplatform to said clamping and abrading means, and means to discharge theabraded soles.

10. A shoe sole abrading apparatus comprising: an elongated, planar solefeed table slanted across its short dimension; a guide surface along thelower end of said table; a clam-p adjacent and above the central portionof said table; a power motor operably connected to shift said clamptoward said table to clamp a sole thereagainst; a sole stack hopper overone end of said table, having a pair of spaced side elements and aslanted back surface; the side element closest said clamp having a soleoutlet at its bottom; said table including an unloading station at theend of the table opposite said hopper; a carriage shiftable lengthwisealong said table from said hopper, past said clamp, to said unloadingstation, and power means to shift said carriage; a first plurality ofspaced, sole feed advancing fingers normally projecting above saidtable; power means operably connected to move said fingers below thetable for recessed movement from said clamp back behind said hopper; thefinger furthest from said guide surface having a dogleg configurationparallel to the transverse slant of said table to accommodate soles ofdifferent length; the leading upper edge of said fingers being convexlycurved to lift adjacent stacked soles while pushing the lowermost soleout of said hopper; a rotational abrading element mounted to saidcarriage to abrade a clamped sole, by moving past said clamp with saidcarriage simultaneously with return of said feed fingers to said hopper;push out, sole discharge fingers movable between said clamp and saiddischarge station and shiftable to a position projecting above saidtable to push abraded soles to said discharge station with advancementof said feed fingers and return of said abrading cylinder, and to aposition recessed below said table to return to said clamp with returnof said feed fingers to said hopper and abrading movement of saidcylinder.

11. A shoe sole abrading apparatus comprising: a slanted, fiat sole feedtable having a guide surface along the lower edge thereof; a clampadjacent and above the central portion of said table; a pivotal mountsupporting said clamp, and a power motor operably connected to saidmount to pivot it and shift said clamp toward said table; a sole stackhopper over one end of said table, having a pair of spaced side elementsand -a slanted back surface;

said back surface having a slippery lubricious characteristic, and beingat an obtuse angle to said table to have a line contact only with solesstacked in said hopper; the side element closest said clamp having asole outlet at its bottom, and having a resilient, shiftable springfinger in front of said outlet, shiftable out of said outlet for egressof the bottom sole in said hopper; roller means at the bottom of saidhopper in said table, opposite said hopper back surface; said tableincluding an unloading station at the end of the table opposite saidhopper; a carriage shiftable lengthwise along said table from saidhopper, past said clamp, to said unloading station, and power means toshift said carriage; la first pair of spaced, sole feed advancinglingers normally projecting above said table; shiftable arms mountingsaid lingers and supported by said carriage; said arms and fingers beingmovable with said carriage between said hopper and said clamp; powermeans operably connected to said arms to move said fingers below thetable for recessed movement from said clamp back to said hopper; theleading upper edge of said fingers being convexly curved to liftadjacent stacked soles while pushing the lowermost sole out of saidhopper; a sole hook on said table at the upper portion thereof, adjacentsaid clamp, to catch the upper end of a sole fed to the clamp andprevent it from turning `on said slanted table; a rotational abradingcylinder mounted to said carriage to abrade a clamped sole, by movingpast said clamp with said carriage and simultaneously with return ofsaid feed fingers to said hopper; Ia pair of push out, sole dischargefingers movable between said clamp and said discharge station; pivotalarms mounting said discharge fingers to said carriage and shiftable tomove said fingers to a position projecting above said table to pushabraded soles to said discharge station with advancement of said feedfingers and return of said abrading cylinder, and a position recessedbelow said table to return to said clamp with return of said feedfingers to said hopper and abrading movement of said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,670,304 5/1928 Green. 1,960,2895/1934 Simmons. 2,948,906 8/1960 Pulsifer 12-87 3,088,146 5/1963 Forma12-87 3,299,455 1/ 1967 Harrington 12-87 ROBERT C. RIORDON, PrimaryExaminer.

I. A. MATHEWS, Assistant Examiner.

2. A SHOE SOLE ABRADING APPARATUS COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED PLATFORM,VERTICALLY SLANTED FROM FRONT TO BACK TRANSVERSE TO ITS ELONGATEDDIMENSION; A SHOE SOLE HOPPER AT ONE END OF SAID PLATFORM, AND ADISCHARGE AREA AT THE OTHER END THEREOF; A CLAMPING DEVICE SHIFTABLETOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID PLATFORM BETWEEN SAID HOPPER AND SAIDDISCHARGE AREA; A SOLE RETENTION MEANS ALONG SAID SLANTED PLATFORM ATTHE LOWER EDGE THEREOF TO GUIDE A SOLE SHIFTED TO SAID CLAMP; AREVOLVING SOLE ABRADING CYLINDER EXTENDING OVER A PORTION OF SAIDPLATFORM WITH ITS AXIS PARALLEL THERETO AND MOVABLE ALONG SAID PLATFORMIN RECIPROCAL FASHION BACK AND FORTH ADJACENT SAID CLAMPING DEVICE TOABRADE THE HEEL AREA OF A SOLE CLAMPED TO SAID SURFACE; AND MEANS TOFEED SOLES TO SAID CLAMP TO SAID HOPPER, AND FROM SAID CLAMP TO SAIDDISCHARGE AREA.